Shipping crate



May. ZZ,I9Z3.

F. A. SCHMITZ SHIPPING CRATE Filed July 23 1921 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 22, 1923. I

F. A. SCHMITZ SHIPPING CRATE gizled 119 211 110 s Shegs-Sheet 2 MayZZ, r923. 456,042 I F. A. SCHMITZ SHIPPING CRATE Filed July 23 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 22, 11923:.

warren A srras "rr FRED A. SCHMITZ, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL FIREPROOF- ING COMPANY, 01 YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHIPPING CRATE.

Application filed July 23, 1921. Serial No. 486,968.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRED A. SCHMITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates, particularly. of the classemployed in crating furniture.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a crate of this character possessing special utility in the crating and shipping of steel furniture such as filing cabinets, safes, etc. The usual practice in that regard is to build or construct a framing to form a crate about the article to protect it in transit against damage or destruction and also preserve the varnished or enameled surface thereof against scratching or marring in handling. As a rule the parts of the crate are nailed or otherwise fastened about the article to be shipped in such a manner as to meet the individual requirements of each article, and notwithstanding the fact that such crates are braced and reinforced against movement to avoid chafing at points o f contact with the article, the high polished orfinished surfaces of the article frequently become damaged due to the relative movement between the crate parts and the article.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to obviate as far as possible the liability of damage of the character mentioned to articles in transit, and also in the act of crating by providing a crate structure which may, for the greaterpart at least. be made up in units apart from the crating operation and then assembled about the article in a quick and convenient manner. In the latter connection it is proposed to rigidly, connect certain of the crate units or sections with the article in such a manner as to avoid relative movement therebetween and at the same time provide a thoroughly practical means for assembling the remaining sections to enable the entire structure to withstand. the shocks of loading and unloading and also properly distribute the effect of such shocks or blows in a manner that will not in any way injure the article contained within the crate.

With the above and. vother objects in view which will more readily appear the na- -between the crate parts and the ture of the invention is more clearly understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described. illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article crated in accordance with the present invention.

. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the crate parts.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontalcross sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view with the intermediate portions of the crate broken away to illustrate the top and bottom construction of the crate.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

One of the distinctive features of the present invention is the provision of previously constructed crate units or sections, certain of which may be bolted or otherwise securely attached to the article so as to become in effect a rigid part thereof-and thereby eliminate chafing or rubbing between the unit and the article. The sections thereby become thrust receiving sections for better distributing the forces of compression, shear, and tension to the article. In that way a strong and rigid crate structure is formed that offers substantial resistance to compression and shear forcesimposed on the sides of the crate, whereby under ordinary conditions of shipping no movement can occur object being shipped.

The invention is obviously applicable to all types of articles to be shipped, such as cabinets, desks. tables. machines or other objects but for sake of conveniencethe present drawings illustrate the adaptation of the invention in the shipping of a filing cabinet designated generally as F. This cabinetineludes the usual sliding drawers D and the side walls W, having therein the opening 0 for receiving the anchoring or fastening bolts for connecting the cabinet with an ad}v j ce t cabinet of a battery or stack. These cabinet.

As will be observed from the drawings openings 0, as usual, may be of auy'desired number and location, but as shown in Figure 2 are preferably located near the corners of the cabinet in order to afford better distribution of the fastening means. When the cabinet is to be crated for shipment the said openings 0 may be conveniently utilized for receiving a novel fastening unit A (Figure for rigidly coupling the main units or side sections 1 of the crate to the sides of the openings 3 for registering therewith. hen

the openings 0 in the side wall and openings 3 in the bars of the unit I register the top ends 2 of the frame bars have a substantial projection above the plane of the top ofthe cabinet F and the lower ends 2 of the bars have a similar projection below the bottom of the cabinet. As the dimensions and specifications of the cabinets are well known int-he factory the side units 1 of the crates may be previously constructed in a form ready to be assembledon the side of the cabinet by means of the DOVBlfZl-S-r ten in g devices A, thus avoiding the use of nails "or other fastenings at the time of crating which otherwise'might puncture or injure the cabinet in event of being misplaced or piercing beyond the limits ofthe frame by' reason of being too long for the thickness "thereof.

The said fastening devices A may be of any suitable and convenient type, but in order to provide a thoroughly practical and effective fastening or coupling, it is preferred to use a suitable bolt 4 adapted to be inserted through the openings 0 and 3,

respectively in the side wall of the cabinetand the frame bars of the side unit, the said bolt having the head thereof bearing against a relati'vel large cu a Jed washer 5 arran ed at the inner side of the wall V while "the outer side of the'circular boss in which the opening 0 is formed is also fitted with cupped ring-likev washer 6 whose flanged edge '7 is adapted to ha e a biting contact with the woo-den frame'bar 2 asshow'n in Figure 3, Y

For the purpose of insuring'a tight as sembly of the washers on the bolt 4: a loose tiller nut 8 may be placed upon the intermediate portion of the shank of the bolt, while the outer threaded portion of the bolt may receive a relatively large washer 9 for 'an'dthe wall of the cap.

pleting the assembly of the crate.

the front and back crate sections.

the'loose nut 8 will also be embedded therein to further increase the rigidity of the coupling or connection between the frame bar By reason of the spaced washers 5 and 6 engaging the inner and outer sides of the bars having theopening 0 it w ll be apparent that the clamping effect exerted by.

the bolt willbe distributed in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner to the side walls of the cabinet, andthus prevent diswall in which the boss is located. When the side unit of the crate structure is thus attached to the side wall of the crate by the several fastening units A it will be apparent that the side units of the crate are in effect a rigid and integral part of the cabinet, and when thus assembled at the sides ofthe cabinet the same constitutethe basis for com tortion of the reinforcing rib of the side By reason-of the ends 2 and 2 of the frame bars of theside unit projecting above and below the top and bottom of the cabinet the top and bottom (crate sections'll and 12 may be readily fitted into place between the projections of the opposite side walls. The.

said sections 11 and 12inay be previously prepared, and respectively consist the side members 11? and cross members 11 and the side members 12" as clearly shown in the drawing. In each instance the length of the top-and bottom sections is greater than tiedepth of the cabinet so that the;

opposite ends" 11 and 12 respectivelyproject beyond the front and rearwalls of the cabinettocompensate for the thickness of The said front and back sections are des ignated as 14 and 15 and are ofsubstantially the same lengtlrasthe vertical hei ght'of the lOS cabinet thereby to fit between the proj'ecting endsfl]. and 12 of the top and bottom sections ;'and as shown, said sections may be composed of the frame members 14* and 15 respectively and suitable cross pieces 14 and 15" In the case of thefrontsection 14 the cross piecesl l; are preferably of rela tively thick crosssection for the purpose o'f providing the necessary clearance between the body of the section'and the front of the cabinet where the drawer pullsof the drawer D are located; A's will be seen from Fig ures t and 5 fonexam'p'le, the cross pieces 14" rest upon the drawer pulls or'handles for the drawer and "not only protect the same against breakage butat the same-time prevent thedrawers from moving about dur-' ing the transportation of the'cabinet.

The top, bottom, front and backsections 3an 4 nam ly a e; ififli crate with the rigidly connected side sections,

:1 suitable metallic tape T is wrapped about the outside of the crate sections. As shown in Figure l the said tape T is wrapped transversely about the crate three times, and vertically about the same twice, and in'each instance the ends of the tape being fastened by a conventional and well known metallic form of tie or coupling T used in the application of said tape to crates and the like.

Thus it will be apparent that the metallic tapes '1 securely hold the relatively removable sections of the crate in place. And, when all of the sections are assembled to form the complete crate it will be apparent that-since the two side units or sections extend beyond the limits of the cabinet at the bottom and top thereof, these members will receive substantially all of the blows that come to the crate and these blows are then. transmitted by the fastening bolts 4t to the sides of the cabinets. As this shearing force thus applied is distributed to the sides of the cabinet no harm can result, because the cabinet has great strength against shearing forces which are applied in any direction within the plane of the sides. Also the projection of the side sections beyond the limits of the side of the cabinet serve to protect the top, bottom, front and back of the cab inet against blows that may be produced at right angles thereto. To further assist in the complete protection of the cabinet or other article within the crate the same may be encased or enveloped by a sheet of heavy wrapping paper, cardboard or equivalent material M which will prevent surface scratching and also act as a weather-proof protection.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A. crate of the class described comprising a. plurality of separate crate frames arranged for assembling about the article to be shipped, binders for holding the said frames in assembled relation, and fasteners connecting a frame and the article.

2. A crate of the class described comprising a plurality of separate crate sections for assembling in box form about the article to be shipped, said sections being side, top, bottom and end sections, binders for securing together all of the said sections, and fastening devices fitted to the article andhaving a fastening connection with certain of the frame sections.

3. A crate of the class described, including. in combination with the article to be shipped, a crate section adapted to be rigidly con nected to the article, other.crate sections adapted to be assembled about the article, I

and a binder engaging the crate section carried by the article .and also said other crate sections for holding the same in assembled relation about the article to be shipped.

4;. A crate of the class described, including in combination with the article to be shipped, a crate section rigidly connected to the article and projecting beyond" the same, other crate sections loosely assembled about the article and cooperating with the article carried section to form the complete crate, and binders for holding the said other sections in place about the article. i

5. A crate of the class described, including in combination with the article to be shipped, a pair of crate sections having portions extending beyond the limits of the article to be shipped, means for rigidly connecting said sections to the article, other crate sections arranged about the article and inter-fitting with said first mentioned sections, and binder tapes passed around all of said crate sections.

6. A shipping crate of the class described, including in combination with the article'to' be shipped, a pair of side sections of greater dimensions than the article to be shipped. means for rigidly connecting said crate sections to the article and a plurality of other crate sections interfitting with the projecting portions of said first mentioned crate sections and arranged loosely about the remainder of the article, and a plurality of flexible binder tapes embracing all of said sections.

7. A shipping crate of the class described, including a thrust receiving section adapted to be rigidly connected to the article to be shipped, and other crate sections assembled about the said article and cooperating with the thrust section to provide a complete crate, and means for holding all of said sections in assembled relation.

8, A shipping crate of the class described, including in combination with the article to be shipped, having openings therein, of a crate section having openings corresponding to the openings in the article to be shipped. fastening devices for clamping the sections and the article together at the locations of said openings, other crate sections assembled about the article to be shipped and means for holding the latter in position.

9. A shipping crate of the class described, including in combination with the article to be shipped, of a pair of crate sections adapted to be arranged at opposite sides of the arrality' of sections'forming a hollow parallelogram means for -connecting certain of said ticle, means for rigidly securing said See to the article, other crate sections adapted'tobe disposed at right angles to said first mentioned crate sections and protecting the ends, top and bottom of. said ar ticle,"a'nd binding tapes for holding said latter crate sections in position.

'10. A shipping crate of the class described;

including in 'combination with the article to be shipped, a pair of'main crate sections,

means for rigidly securing said main crate sections to the article tobe shipped, top and bottom sections loosely fitting between the projecting end portions of said main sections, end'se'ctions fittmgbetwe'enthe projectin'g'end portions of the top and bottom sectioiis anchbinding tapes passing about all of'the crate sections at right angles to hold place. '1

the relatively loosely interfitting sections-to the main section'sand' to the article to be shippedf 11. A shipping crate including, in combi nation with the article to be Shipped, a main crate section having projecting impact receivingend portions and means "for forming a rigid connection with the article thereby to distribute compressive 'sliearing'and tensioning strains from the I section directly to the a'rticlel v, 1

12. A shipping crate including a plusections directly to the article to become in eftectgan integral part thereof, and "other means for-holding the remaining sections in 13. A shipping crate of the class described, including in;combination'with the article to t be shipped, a pair of oi tside crate sections having impact receiving'edge portions'projecting beyond the limits otthe article to be shipped, means for rigidly} connecting said sections to the article,"'and other crate sec tions filling the space between the projecting end port-ions. i f

p 14; In a shipping crate, a fastening device for securing the crate to the article contained therein, said device consisting of a member having Washer elements thereon for engag-.

ing with opposite sides of a wall of the article within the crate, and, said member projecting through an opening in thecr'atewithin the crate; and one of said washers having means for "embedding itself in the crate,' and tensloning nut and bearing washer adapted to be applied to the portion of the bolt projecting beyond the crate.

- In testimony whereof I herei1nto"affix mysignature in the presence of twowitne ss'es.

Witnesses:

" W. C. CoRrELL,

MORROW.

F inn A. soi mrz. I 

